Vending machine



Sept. 15, 1931 NEXT PACKAGE T BE DELEVERED A. H. DU GRENIER VENDINGMACHINE Filed Dec.

3 Sheefs-Sheec l 76 anvcnfoz p A. H. DU GRENIER VENDING MACHINE FiledDec. 7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet anvemtoz HI? THUR 01/ GRENIER attozmeq/V P1931- A. H. DU GRENIER 1,823,093

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. '7. 192-7 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wuewtoz f ATHUI?HDz/G/PE/V/ZK Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHURH. DU GRENIER, 0F ILION, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOCONSOLIDATED AUTOMATIC MERCHANDISING CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE VENDING MACHINE Application filed December 7, 1927. Serial No.238,297.

The present-invention relates to that class of dispensing machines whichare com controlled in action and has for its objects the ranged orunsuccessfully operated by any.

user not familiar with the same or successfully operated by any personwho attempts to defraud the machine by insertion of articles assubstitutes for coins.

The invention has for its main object particularly, to improve thatclass of machines wherein there is provided aplurality of compartmentsthat-may contain the same or different commodities With means forbringing one of the compartments into position for delivering one of thearticles. \Vhile the improvements are applied to this particular classof machine they are, nevertheless, capable of being applied either inpart or in whole to other classes of machines.

As hitherto constructed, machines have been so devised that the articlesto be vended are stacked in vertical piles so that by coin controlledmeans the lowermost package may be separated from the stack and causedto be delivered to the customer.

In order that a large number of articles may be carried by the machineso as to eliminate frequent charges the supply chamber is usually quitehigh and it will be obvious that the longer or higher the stack thegreater the pressure placed-upon the lowermost article. For some classesof goods the pressure applied is not objectionable, but for otherclasses, such as a chocolate and goods of which the base is somematerial liable to'become sticky or soft under the action of heat orpressure, this is very objectionable and commodities falling within theabove class cannot be suitably dispensed by machines in which thearticles are stacked one upon the other.

Furthermore, in order to attract the customer and to provide a packagewhich is distinct in appearance or novel in form, manufacturers havedressed and wrapped their respective commodities in such a manvner thatthe advertising value and attractiveness would be greatly lessened ifsuch articles were stacked one upon the other.

Therefore, in order that packages may be vended in their originalwrapper to obtain the full benefit thereof and to prevent thedeleterious action caused by the stacking of adjacent articles thepresent machine provides an improved form of chamber whereby thearticles to be vended may be individ- .ually and separately carried bysuitable compartments.

In order to permit the article to be next vended to be viewed by aproposed customer the enclosing cabinet is preferably provided with aglass panel so that the customer may observe the article which would bedelivered by a subsequent operation of the machine. It is intended thatthe glass panel be sufficiently large-so that the package" may beobserved at some distance thus .allowing theadvertising value of thewrapper of the package to be fully obtained. In the preferred embodimentthe articles to be vended are carried by horizontal vanes of an endlesschain which is supported by a plurality of siipporting shafts. One ofthese shafts, which may be designated as the main operating shaft, isgeared to the chain and is partially rotated by a projecting operatingslide. The slide is normally locked against operation, but is releasedupon the insertion of a proper coin. The partial rotation of the maindelivery shaft is such that the weight of the articles carried by thechain will assist the rotation of the shaft as caused by the.operationof the slide, so as to greatly assist the operator in de-\ livering thearticle. I This construction results in. an easy operating machinerequiring a minimum of manual eflort.

Machines of this character find ready adaptation inplaces in which thevertical space is plentiful but the horizontal space at a premium and bymeans of the chain construction the capacity of the machine per unit ofmeasure horizontally is greatly increased over the form of machines inwhich a single stack vertically is provided.

A further object of the invention is to' provide a chain constructionand devices for carrying and supporting the chain in such a way that anarticle supporting shelf is moved'from a horizontal to a verticalposition in a single step of movement.

A further object of the machine is to provide an improved form of cointesting mechanism whereby to detect and deflect spurious coins orsubstitutes and more specifically to provide means for casting asidearticles which, if permitted to reach the mechanism, would clog andpossibly damage the same, thereby entailing untold trouble and expensein the removal and repair of the ma chine, in addition to the loss ofsales while the machine is out of order. y

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a machine forcarrying out the above objects which is comparatively simple inconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture and install, and which isthoroughly reliable and highly eflicient in its operation.

The above and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are obtainedby the novel structure and combination and arrangement of parts to behereinafter described and claimed. Reference will now be had to theaccompanying drawings forming part of the specification wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the vending machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention. L Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview taken thru the left side of the machine showing the manner in whichthe articles to be vended are individually supported and their relationto the article delivery pocket.

Fig. 3 is a back view of several of the components of the chain deliverymechanism.

Fig. 4 is a front view of several of the components of the chaindelivery mechanism. V

Fig. 5 is an end view of a part of the chain delivery mechanism showingparticularly the manner in which the components of the chain arehingedly connected together.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the front of the improved vendingmachine.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the 5 right side of the machineand discloses the goin controlling mechanism devised thereore.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged View in side elevation illustrating particularlythe coin receiving and testing chute and its relationship to thereleasing mechanism for the operating shaft of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the coin releasing mechanism.

Fig. 10 is an end view of the coin testing Cabinet and frameworkReferring to the drawings and specifically describing the invention thenumeral 1 (Fig. 1) designates the enclosing cabinet of the machine whichmay be made of any desired material and in any shape and configuration,that disclosed in'the drawings being, however, the preferred form.Detachable from the enclosing cabinet 1 is a front plate 2 which isadapted 'to cover most of the operating parts 0 the machine. The plate 2carries a glass panel 3 thru which the articles to be vended may beviewed. Above" the glass panel 3 and to the right is a slotted plate 4in which the coins are introduced for the purpose of releasing anactuating slide 5 in order that the articledesired may be delivered to adelivery slot 6 formed in the front plate 2.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 6, it will be observed that restingupon the base' of the cabinet 1 and securely attached thereto by meansof rivets, welding or other suitable fastening means, is a pair ofangular plates 7, the vertical plate of each being bent so as to formguide channels 8. The guide channels 8 face each other oppositely toreceive ribs 9 formed on the underside of an integral casting 10. .Thecasting 10 is, in the present disclosure, the means for supporting theoperating partsof the machine and the operating parts are, therefore,detachable-fro'm the enclosing cabinet 4 by reason of the guide channeland rib construction just described. Resting upon the frame supportingmember 10 is an irregular shaped casting 11. As shown in Fig. 7 one sideof the casting rests upon the supporting base member 10 and also asshown in Fig. 2 the other side of the framework 11 also rests upon thesupporting base member 10. As best shown in Fig. 7 a stepped. portion 12between thecastings 10 and 11 is provided so as to insure the properrelationship between the castings and to further insure the same thereis integral with one side ofthe casting 11 (Fig. 7) an integral U-shapedrib 13 apertured so as to receive a screw passing into a boss 14integral with the base supporting member 10. By means of the aboveconstruction the proper relationship between the castings and 11 isinsured. The front plate 2 may be attached to the castings 10 and 11 byany suitable fastening means. 7

00in testing mechanism above purpose may be adopted and one form.

. of mechanism which may be used is shown and described in theapplication to Arthur H. Du Grenier, Serial No. 112,011, filed May 27,1926. This mechanism forms no part of the present invention and will,therefore, be described but briefly.

Registering with the slot in a coin receiving plate 4 is a coin chutewhich comprises a fixed side 15 (Figs. 6, 8, 10, and 11) and a movableside 16 hingedly mounted by a pin 17 to thestationary side 15. Movementof the hinged side opens the chute and affects the release of coins orother objects that may be retained or held therein.

Carried by the, stationary side 15 of the chute is a magnet 18 (Fig. 8)of the horse shoe type having its termini so bent and arranged that theyare adjacent a lug 19 forming part of the base of the chute and it mayhere be mentioned that the material of the coin chute of which it isconstructed is of a suitable non-magnetic composition.v p

As clearly shown in Fig. 8, the lug 19 and a rib 20 together form partof the base of the coin chute over which the coin rolls between thesides 15 and 16 of the chute. As best shown in Figs. 6 and 8 the coinchute is inclined horizontally and laterally as well.

The side of the chute 16 (Fig, 7) is pro-- vided with an elongatedopenlng 21, the width of which is slightly less than the diameter of thecoin which it is desired should release the machine for operation. Theinclination of the coin chute laterally is adapted to cause coinsof adiameter less I than standard to drop thru the opening 21 and into thearticle delivery pocket as will be explained hereinafter. Genuine coinswill roll down the chute and if of the proper diameter and of sutficientweight and nonmagnetic, such coins will bridge a'gap 22 (Fig. 8) betweenone of the termini of the horseshoe magnet 18 and a lug 23 integral withthe stationary side-15 of the coin chute. In order to further guide theproper coins to the mechanism forming part of the releasing device forthe machine the lower portion of the side 15 of the coin receiving chuteis covered by a stationary plate 24 (Fig. 7

Ifa substitute for a coin such as a disk of a magnetic material isintroduced in the machine it will roll down the chute until it reachesthe magnet 18 and by the action of the magnet upon the disk the rollingmotion of the disk will be retarded so that its momentum is notsuflicient to cause it to bridge the gap 22. Substitutes of this character will, therefore, find their way into the article delivery pocketof the machine in a manner which will be described hereinafter.

However, if a disk is introduced in the machine which isof the properdiameter, non-magnetic, but lighter than the proper coin, as it passesdown the inclination of the chute it will abut against the looped end 25of a flat spring 26 attached to the underside of the member 15. Thiswill either retard the velocity of the disk as it rolls down the chuteso it is unable to bridge the gap 22 or it will hold the disk above theloop 25 so that it may be released in a manner that will presently bedescribed.

Slidably mounted in a guide slot 27 (Fig. 8) formed in one part of thecasting 11 and a guide bracket 28 (Fig. 8) attached by screws to thecasting 11 is the operating slide 5 which preferably is provided at theend which projects thru the front plate 2 with a ring 271 adapted toreceive one of the fingers of the operator. Pivotally mounted by a screw29 to the side 15 of the coin chute is a bell-crank lever 80 having alug 31 adapted to engage a lug 32 integral with the side 16 (Fig. 10 and11) so that by an operation of the bell-crank lever the side 16 of thecoin chute may be swung about its pivotal point 17 away from the side15. A spring 33 (Fig. 8) attached to the lower portion of the bell-cranklever 30 tends to rock the lever to accomplish this function but isprevented by the engagement. of a lug 34 with the vertical side of aslot 35 formed in the rear end of the operating slide 5. However, theslide 5 is susceptible of an initial operation without releasing themachine for operation so that this partial or matches, hair pins, nails,keys or the like,

they will temporarily be held in the coin chute, but upon an initialoperation of the machine any article which is so lodged will thereuponbe released and fall into a delivery pocket.

- Summarizing the above therefore, it will be noted that it will bepractically imposin releasing mechanism In general, the articles to bevended are carried by a chain which is given a step of movement undercontrol of a main operating shaft 36 (see Fig. 2). The'means whereby theslide 5 rotates the shaft 36 to permit the delivery of an articlecomprises the following mechanism: Attached to the shaft 36 (Fig. 13) isa locking disk 37 which isreeessed internally at '38 to receive a spider39' which-fits loosely upon a collar 40 of the locking element 37. Thelocking disk 37 carries a plurality of locking shoulders 41, one ofwhich is normally engaged by the hooked end of a spring-urged loc ingarm 42 which is pivoted by a pin 43 to an integral extension of theframework 11. Integral with the spider.

39 or attached by any suitable .means is a coin receiving disk 44provided with a plurality of coin receiving slots 441.- As best shown inFig. 8 one of these slots 0r pockets is normally in registration withthe lower end of the coin delivery chute. The coin receivin disk 44 isalso provided with a pluralityo laterally extending pins 45 which aredisposed at an angle of 90 apart. The pins 45 are in the plane of agravity operated connecting member 46 pivoted to the slide The rearwardend of the connecting member 46 has a hook 47 normally engaging one ofthe pins 45 and is recessed at 48 to permit this engaging relationship.

It will also be observed in Fig. 12 that the arms of the spider 39 areof a width less than the corresponding recess inthe locking arm 37 sothat a movement may be given to the slide 5 independent of the shaft 36.From the foregoing it will be obvious that this initial movement permitsthe opening of the movable side 16 of the coin chute to permit therejection of improper articles inserted in the coin chute. Thismovement, furthermore, permits a coin in one of the slots 441 in thecoin receiving disks 44 to engage a lug 49 integral with the locking arm42 so as .to disengage the hooked portion from one of the lockingshoulders 41 thereby releasing the shaft 36 so that further movement ofthe slide 5, under control of the operator, will permit the hooked por-The means whereby thetion 47 to engage one of the studs 45 therebyrotating the shaft 36 and'during this-time one of the pins 45 will bereceived by a recess 50 formed in the underside of the slide 5. Theslide 5 is withdrawn by the operator against the tension'in a spring 51and at the extreme outward movement of the slide 5 the shaft 36 willhave been given a rotation of substantially 90 at which time one of thearticles will be delivered to the delivery pocket of the machine as willbe explained hereinafter.

The slide 5 is returned by the action of the returning spring 51, theconnecting plate 46 being lifted upwardly by the camming action of oneof the pins 45. The return movement of the slide 5 is limited by theco-action of one of the pins 45 with a stop shoulder 52 formed on theslide 5 and at the extreme inward movement of the slide 5 the member 46will drop down under the action of gravity so that the hook 47 againengages one of the pins 45.

Retrograde movement of the shaft 36 is prevented by means of a ratchettoothed wheel 53 which is rigid or integral with the locking disk 37,engaging a full-stroke pawl 54 pivotally mounted on the pin 43.

The articles to be vended are carried by a chain which is made up ofplates comprising, as best shown in Fig. 5, a vertical or link portion53 and a horizontal or shelf portion 54, the corner being suitablyrounded. The mid-section of the lower edge of each link 53 projectsbeyond the end sections and is turned into a loop 55 which forms half ofa hinge by which successive-links are joined. The other half of thehinge comprises the straps 56 and 561 formed at the angle between eachshelf 54 and its link 53 and bent to pass respectively below and abovehinge pins 57, which pins likewise pass thru the loops 55. In thepresent disclosure, in order to receive the looped portion 55 aconsiderable amount of material is cut away at the angleand in order tocompensate therefore and firmly support the shelves 54, stiffener pieces58 may be secured thereto by welding or in any other desirable manner.However, it will be understood that by otherwise forming the loops 55and 56-the plate 58 may be dispensed with. By joining successivesections in this way a continuouschain may be formed, the shelves 54being adapted to receive the articles to be vended. Such a chain mountedin the machine is seen in 2. The lower portion of the chain passesaround a blocks 59 (Figs. 2 and 6) the blocks being pinned to the mainoperating shaft 36. In order to support the chain at its upper end,there is securely attached to the upper portion of the casting 11. (seeFig. 7) by means of a pair of screws 60 an upright member 61.

Attached to the extreme upward portion of pair of the upright member 61by screws 62 is a bracket 63 slotted at its extreme upward end toreceive a journal block 64. By means of an adjusting screw 65 thejournal block 64 and shaft 66 received thereby may be adjustedvertically. Also attached to the uprightmember 61 by means of a pair ofrivets 67 is a channel plate 68 which, at its lower end receives theshaft 36 and extends upwardly and is suitably bent so that it is spacedapart at its extreme upward end from the upright member 61. The channelbar 68 has rigidly secured thereto a bracket 69 in which is slidablymounted a journal block 70 which receives the other end of the shaft 66.By means of an adjusting screw 71 the journal blocks 70 may also beadjusted. The shaft 66 has pinned thereto a pair of-blocks 72 aboutwhich the chain also passes. By the above construction, it will be notedthat a very rigid mounting for the chain mechanism is provided. As bestshown in Fig. 2, the article to be next vended is visible thru the glasspanel 3 and upon a subsequent partial rotation of the-shaft 36 the chainwill be partially rotated so that the article appearing in the glasspanel 3 will drop downwardly so as to be received by the customeroperating the machine. As the chain is partially rotated the horizontalplate 54 thereof will permit the article to be vended to drop downwardlywhere it may be received in a suitable opening in the case.

In order to prevent injury of the mechanism by persons who might attemptto damage the machine by inserting their hands or instruments thru theopening provided to receive the articles to be dispensed, there ispreferably provided a pivoted receptacle which normally receives thearticle to be vended. By rotating the receptacle about its pivot thearticle received thereby is made accessible to the operator, but duringthis operation the interior mechanism is efiectively protected againstaccess thereto. The article delivery receiving receptacle cofimprisespreferably a cup comprised of side plates 73 and 74 joined by anintegral base 75, it being noted thatthe receptacle is slotted at 76 sothat the article may drop into the receptacle resting upon the base 75.The receptacle is hinged by means of a pivot pin 77 carried by a portionof the framework 10. The front of the receptacle carries a finger piece78, it being noted that the front ofthe cabinet is suitably cut away sothat manipulation of the finger-piece 78 ma 1 be readily permitted andthat access to the lnterior of the receptacle by means of the slot 76may also be permitted. When the chain is given a partial rotation thearticle to be vended drops down in the slot 76 into the deliveryreceptacle and by grasping the finger 78 to rotate the receptacle aboutits pivotal point 77 the article may be received by the insertion of ahand thru the slot 76, but during this movement it will be noted that asthe article delivery receptacle is being rotated the portion willeffectively close the gap normally provided by the slot 76 therebyeifectively preventing the insertion of any instruments or the handsofthe operator of the machine. It will be noted that a protecting shield7 8a is secured to the front wall 2 of the container (Fig. 2) andextends outwardly therefrom so as to cover the slot or opening 76 duringthe intermediate position of the receptacle between its registry withthe article delivery means and the position where it is accessible tothe purchaser. By this construction, the opening 76 is'accessible to thepurchaser only after it is substantially completely out of register withthe delivery means. It is to be understood that a portion of the opening76 may be connected simultaneously with the article delivery means andthe exterior of the apparatus provided that the extent of such openingsis kept sufliciently small to render it impractical, if not literallyimpossible, to reach through or to insert a wire or instrument for thepurpose of tampering with the inside mechanism of the apparatus.

As previously stated, the mechanism may be withdrawn from the enclosingcabinet 2 and when this relationship exists the articles to be vendedmay be placed upon the horizontal plates 54 of the chain; All thearticles which are to the front of the pivots 66 and 36 are placed intheir normal position, but the articles which are in the back of themachine are placed upside down since the chain will, upon turning aboutthe pivotal point 66, turn these articles to their proper and normalpositions where the printed matter may be readily viewed thru the glasspanel 3. It should also be observed that when the machine is loaded thegreater weight is to the back of the machine, but any backward movementof the chain will be prevented by the full-stroke mechanism previouslydescribed. After an article has been vended and if the merchandiseloaded upon the front and back portions of the chain is the same theload will be counter-balanced and equal, but upon successive vendingoperations the greater weight will be upon the front of the -machine andas the machine is successively operated the operation will therebybecome successively easier since the weight will assist in rotating theshaft 36 and the extent to which the load assists the operator will bedependent upon the adjustment given to the shaft 66.

As previously stated any bad coins or articles which are introduced intothe machine and which are not capable of releasing the machine foroperation will be returned to the customer. 4

Referring particularly to Fig. 8, it will be noted that the frame 11 isprovided with a plurality of raised ribs 80 and by means of a plate 81(Fig. 7) attached to the frame 11 chain.

the coin chute thus formed will direct improper coins and articles tothe article delivery receptacle since the lower portion of wise movementin a rearward direction of the articles carried'by the chain, and inorder to prevent endwise movement of the articles forwardly there issecurely attached to the bracket 60 a pair of parallel plates 82 and 83joined at their upper ends by rivets 84 and securely attached by pins toa bracket 85 preferably welded to the upper end of channel member 61.Therefore, it will be noted from the above construction the articles tobevended are confined in their respective pockets.

The method of operation of the improved machine is as follows:

Assuming that the machine is loaded with articles to be vended, thecustomer will insert a coin in the coin slot of the plate 4. The coinpasses into the coin receiving chute, and if it is a proper one it willdepress the loop portion 23-of the spring 20 (Fig. 8) pass by thetermini of the magnet 18, jump the gap 22 and lodge in one of the coinreceiving slots 44. By means of the ring 271 the customer will withdrawthe slide 5 so that upon an initial operation of the machine the spring33 will rock the bellcrank lever 29 opening the side 16 of the coinchute. At this time the connecting plate 46 engaging one of the pins 45will rock the coin receiving plate 43 so that the -coin in slot 44 willengage the lug 49 of the locking arm 42 thereby withdrawing the lockinghook from one of the shoulders 41 of the locking disk 37. At this timeone of the arms of the spider 39 co-acting with the recess formed in thelocking plate 37,

will rotate the shaft 36 whereupon the block 59 will give a partialrotation of the chain. This will permit the article visible thru theglass panel 3 to drop downwardly into the article receiving pocket. Theoperator will, after this operation, release the slide 5 so that it mayreturn to its normal position at which time the connecting plate 46 willengage another pin 44 in readiness for an ensuing operation of themachine. The coin which operates the machine will be rotatedcounter-clockwise and will fall downwardly as indicated by the arrow 'inFig. 8 and will be received by a pocket indicated by reference character'93 which is between the side of the frame 11 and right side of theenclosing cabinet.

If the customer should introduce an article which is lighter than a goodcoin, it will be stopped by the spring 20 and will be lodged in the coinchute, or will drop thru the aperture 22. If the disk introduced ismagnetic, it will be halted by the magnet 1.8 and drop thru the gap 22,and thence downwardly in the chute formed by the ribs 80 and plate 81 tothe article delivery pocket. Articles which are lodged in the coin chutewill be released upon initial operation of the machine, since at thistime, the bell-crank lever 29 will be rocked permitting the side of thechute 16 to be rocked so that the articles will fall down thru the chuteinto the article delivery receiving pocket.

The invention is not to be considered as limited to the precisemechanisms illustrated" and described, but is to be construed asextending to' all equivalent devices falling within a broadinterpretation of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1 1. In a machine of the character described, a continuous chaincomprising links, each link being provided with a link portion and anintegral perpendicularly extending shelf, means for joining said linkscomprising a loop at the free edge of the link portion, a recessadjacent the angle between the link and shelf portions to receive saidloop of an adjacent link, integral straps laterally adjacent saidrecess, and a hinge pin adapted to be received by said loop of one linkand between said straps of an adjacent link.

2. In a machine of the character described, a continuous chain providedwith article supporting shelves, means for supportingsaid chaincomprising a vertically extending casting, bearings in said casting,upper and lower chain supporting shafts each-having one end journaled inone of said bearings, a framepiece secured at its midsection to saidcasting and having end' portions spaced therefrom, and bearings for saidshafts in said framepiece.

3. In a machine of the character described, an article receiving anddelivering chain, means for supporting said chain comprising a singlevertically extending casting and an auxiliary support secured to saidcasting at its midsection bu't spaced therefrom atits ends.

4. In "a machine of the character described, chain supporting meanscomprising a base member, a main support projecting therefrom andsecured thereto, an auxiliary support secured at its midsection to saidmain support and having ofli'set ends, and a pair of shafts journaled insaid auxiliary support and said main support and base memberrespectively.

5. In a vending machine having a substantially vertical Wall with anopening in the lower portion thereof, a receptacle positioned in saidopening and mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis parallel tosaid wall, said receptacle having an opening in its upper portionnormally in register with article delivery means within said wall, meansfor rotating said receptacle about its axis tobring said opening withoutthe wall, and a protecting shield extending from said wall to cover saidopening while it is passing from one position to the other.

6. In a chain conveyor of the character described, a plurality of linkseach formed from a single substantially rectangular sheet of metal bentinto two portions at substantially right angles to each other, thecentral portion of the material at the angle being cut away to provide arecess and the ed e of one of said two portions being suflicient ynarrow to enter into said recess of an adjacent link, the material atsaid edge portion and the metal adjacent said cut away portion beingbent to form bearings for a connecting; pivotal member.

RTHUR H. DU GRENIER.

